February -- Dental Health Month -- is the time of year when many teachers help students "brush up" on their awareness of tooth care. This week's lessons capitalize on that once-a-year "teachable moment." Included: Five lessons students can sink their teeth into.
Dental Health Month provides teachers with a month full of great curriculum connections. In the primary grades, where the emphasis is on taking care of their teeth, teachers can encourage good tooth care habits. First-grade teachers, in particular, can create a class graph, so students can keep track of teeth lost throughout the year. They might even join this year's Tooth Tally Project. In addition, Dental Health Month offers younger students the opportunity to share some fun read-aloud books (scroll down the page for booklist).
As students move up the grades, hands-on experiments are a great way to drive home the importance of tooth care. Creating a timeline of dental history is another great curriculum connection. Many great Web sites also are available to help you teach about teeth and dental health.
This week, Education World adds to the mix of Dental Health Month activity ideas by providing
FIVE MORE LESSONS FOR TEACHING ABOUT DENTAL HEALTH
Click each of the five lesson headlines below for a complete teaching resource. (Appropriate grade levels for each lesson appear in parentheses.)
Healthy Teeth: Hands-On Science Activities
These experiments illustrate the importance of brushing teeth. (Grades Pre K-12)
Which Toothpaste Do You Use? (A Graphing Activity)
Collect data about favorite toothpastes. Bar graph work sheet included. (Grades K-5)
Making a TV Commercial for "Brighty-Whitey" Toothpaste
Create a new brand of toothpaste that's sure to sell! (Grades K-12)
The History of Dentistry
Learn about dentistry's ancient roots. Student work sheet provided. (Grades 6-12)
A collage of smiles is sure to spread happiness. (Grades K-8)